OB’s flagship Dale’s Pale Ale, now brewed in two states (Denver Post file).

Amid a controversial period of independent American craft brewers selling out to big beer, Colorado-based Oskar Blues Brewery has something else in mind: the possibility of buying smaller U.S. breweries, a brewery representative confirmed.

Spokesman Chad Melis was understandably vague about the details of potential acquisitions by Colorado’s second largest independent craft brewing company, which in 2013 opened a second production facility in North Carolina.

But in response to questions about whether Oskar Blues would consider selling out, Melis floated an altogether different scenario.

The annual Draining of the Pliny is upon us as the coveted limited edition hop bomb from Russian River Brewing Co. makes its annual appearance in Colorado — one of four states where kegs of the delicious triple India Pale Ale are distributed.

The brew already started being tapped at the Falling Rock Taphouse. But it also will be available in 11 other bars throughout the Front Range.

River North brewers-in-arms gathering at Mockery Brewing for a collaborative brew day (Eric Gorski, The Denver Post).

Once the domain of shady characters and drafty warehouses, the River North area north of downtown Denver has been transformed into a hip destination by artists and architects, stylish workspaces and eateries, condo farms for the young and affluent — and one of the thickest concentrations of breweries in the West, if not the country.

Avery Brewing announced details of its farewell party for its current brewery and opening date for new location. (Courtesy of Avery)

Avery Brewing is preparing to open its long-awaited new brewery Feb. 16 — but not before it taps a few more rare beers at its current location.

The Boulder craft brewer announced the date in late January and detailed a farewell party for its current location in an alley off Arapahoe Avenue in an email to fans this week.

“On February 9, 2015, we will say a bittersweet goodbye to our beloved Avery Alley. It has been a dear friend to so many of us for over 21 years, but the time as come for us to move on,” Avery Brewing announced.

Breckenridge Brewery is deep into negotiations with a Denver developer that intends to lease the brewery’s real estate on Kalamath Street to Crazy Mountain Brewing, Breckenridge brewmaster and general manager Todd Usry confirmed Monday.

Breckenridge has a “hard letter of intent” to sell to the developer but is not yet under contract, Usry said. The sale also is to include the Cherry Cricket in Cherry Creek North, another piece of the Breckenridge/Wynkoop company portfolio. Usry declined to go into much further detail until things are finalized.

Fiction Beer Company owners Christa and Ryan Kilpatrick at the bar made of books. (Submitted)

Inside Fiction Beer Company, the bar sits on a stack of books, and the menu offers classics, adventure and fantasy. The tap handles are made from book spines and the east Denver brewery features a tall bookshelf and two comfy couches.

“She’s a book dork, and I’m a beer geek,” explained Ryan Kilpatrick, who along with his wife, Christa, opened the brewery in September. “Everything we do is about books.”

The Belgian dark strong ale brewed with roasted Hatch chilies is called This is Not an Exit, the final line in Bret Easton Ellis’ “American Psycho.” And the Somewhere Around Barstow experimental IPA takes its name from Hunter S. Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”

It’s no secret that beer inspires writers, so it’s only fitting that writers are inspiring Colorado craft beer.

Blue Moon Brewing Company founder and head brewmaster Keith Villa at The Sandlot in Denver, birthplace of Blue Moon (provided by MillerCoors).

Growing up in north Denver, Keith Villa would frequent Mexican restaurants with his family and enjoy a creamy, sweet, rice-based drink brought to the table in what looked like a metal cocktail shaker.

This milky, cinnamon-spiked, non-alcoholic concoction was Horchata, a staple of Latin America. Like so many things of childhood, Villa drank it in happily — but it didn’t leave a particular impression.

Our new iPad app serves as a guide to metro Denver’s bountiful breweries, beer bars and bottle shops, the holy trinity of craft beer enjoyment for followers and fans. Download the app for iPad .
Next time you head for a beer in Boulder, don’t forget your friend, Beers of Boulder and Boulder County, an iPad app from the Daily Camera. Download the app for iPad .

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In Colorado, our pint glasses overflow with excellent beer. New breweries, new batches, festivals every other week. How lucky are we? First Drafts is The Denver Post's beer blog aimed at helping you keep tabs on the state's ever-expanding craft beer culture. We offer a mash of news, event coverage, homegrown stories, tasting notes and tips to help you imbibe. Expert drinker or homebrewer? Let us know what you're loving about Colorado's beer scene. Not sure exactly what a firkin is? No worries, let us be your guide. Go ahead. Belly up and drink it in!